1897 | CURRENT LITERATURE 221 
of the seed in cross-section as an important diagnostic character, and has 
been able to separate forms heretofore thrown together. The original 
G. trifidum L. seems to be Gray’s var. fust//um, and other forms which have 
been loosely associated with it are here set apart as G. arcuatum,n sp., 
G. tinctorium L. with three new varieties, two new varieties of G. trifidum, 
G. cymosum,n. sp., and G. palustre L. Charles L. Pollard’ has described 
two new violets, V. Porteriana from Pennsylvania, and V. favovirens from 
Idaho. The same author also establishes Oxyfria Raf. as the oldest generic 
name for the three species commonly described under Schoenolirion. Gust. 
O. A.:N. Malme has recently contributed to our knowledge of South Ameri- 
can plants by the publication of three papers based upon his own collections. 
The first treats of the Xyridacex,? including descriptions of four new species 
of Xyris and one of Abolboda. The second treats of the genus Burmannia” 
two new species being described. The third discusses the Polygalacex.” 
In allof them it is important to note that the groups are presented in their 
biological aspects.—J. M. C 
Miss ETHEL SARGANT’S second paper’?on the formation of sexual nuclei 
in Lilium Martagon treats of spermatogenesis. It will be remembered that 
in the first paper on oogenesis the conclusion was reached that in no one of 
the three nuclear divisions which immediately precede the formation of the 
ovum is there a transverse fission of the chromosomes. Dr. Haecker’s 
hypothesis demands that in one of these three divisions theré must be a trans- 
verse fission of chromosomes, and also a transverse fission in one of the four 
divisions which lead to the formation of the male pronucleus. 
The nuclei of the pollen mother cells pass through a period of develop- 
ment which corresponds in every detail to that of the macrospore nucleus. 
The amorphous chromatin which was described in the first paper appears 
again in the pollen mother cells. The synapsis stage is discussed at some 
length, and the conclusion is reached that synapsis is a normal phenomenon 
and not an artefact due to reagents. The conclusion is based mainly upon 
a study of living material. Three features characterize synapsis : “a more or 
less complete disappearance of the nuclear membrane, partial solution ot the 
nucleolus, and contraction of the chromatin thread.” In late synapsis the 
nuclear membrane begins to reappear, nucleoli are’reconstructed from an 
amorphous nucleolar mass, the chromatin threads become looser, and the 
big cit. 24: 404-405. 1897. 
8 Op. cit. 24: 405-407. he 
ate till a ney Vet.-Akad. Handl. 22:[no. 2]. 1896. 
Op. cit. 22:[no. 8]. 18 
oe af Sh Wa. an ad. Forhandl. no. 4. 1897. 
he formation of the sexual nuclei in Li/iuem eon: II Spermatogenesis. 
Ann. - 11: 187-224. 189 
